Paris. A very busy boulevard. Someone throws a crumpled piece of paper into the outstretched hands of a beggar-woman. This is the bond which, for an instant, links the trajectories of several very different characters. Anne, a young actress, is on the threshold of success. Her boyfriend, Georges, is a war photographer who rarely finds himself in France. His father is a farmer. Georges's younger brother, Jean, has no interest in taking over the farm. Amadou is a music teacher in an institute for deaf-mute children. His father, a taxi driver, is of African origin. His little sister is deaf, and it's because of her that Amadou has chosen his profession. Maria comes from Romania and sends home the money she makes from begging. What do they have in common, these characters and those whose paths they cross?